Thing is, I'm one of those annoying specimens of the human race who don't really have anything to complain about. No big health issues, no allergies, no nothing. (OK, I have frequent migraines, but I don't concider that a serious healt issue - plus I'll figure out how to beat that some day! )

Same goes for food. I've always had what I in Danish would call an "ostrich's stomach" - I can eat pretty much anything. It doesn't affect me. OK - I love food and that made me over weight, but otherwise I've never discovered any relationship between what I ate to how I felt.

As you probably know, I recently lost 43 lbs on Atkins, and I wanted to keep that weight AND keep my good healt. BTD was the obvious choice! I prepared food lists for me and hubby (he eats what I put in front of him - I brook no refusals! Plus he's a nonnie, so I have to take extra care of him ) After eating the Atkins way, the O diet isn't that different or hard to follow. AND you get to eat rye- and spelt bread, which is a BIG plus! I shifted from real coffee (always been a heavy coffee drinker) to barley/cicory/acorn-coffee, milk (always loved milk) went away a long time ago just like wheat, pork is out, too, etc.

And what happens? NOTHING! Ansolutely nothing! Don't feel any different. Not at all! Nuhuu...!

So, I was going to file a complaint here, and whine about not feeling any different. Really ungreatful when you think of it! When you think of all those health issues people have to struggle with... Bad Poly!

But then today something happened.

See, I've been really bad for the past several days. It started with my father (type A) staying over, and simply giving up on figuring out to cook A-B-O-compliant, I just cooked what I knew he liked, and tried to not eat too bad myself. Well, I did eat cake and sweets and drink coffee - just to keep him company. (Great excuse, huh?) Then it all came crashing down last week. I've been extremely busy at work with lots of meetings, where they served coffee, cake, smørrebrød (you know - Danish open sandwiches on rye bread - not the worst thing, but anyway) etc. Last few days I've been suffering from crazy cravings after winegums (I usually NEVER eat winegums - can't stand'em) and other sweets. On top of that I've had headaches, minor and major migraines almost daily for the last 3 weeks.

I've for years struggled to finish my Masters thesis. But working full time at the pharmacy and writing a scientific paper at the same time isn't that easy. Adding to that a serious case of performance anxiety and you have the result: One stressed, frustrated headachy piece of Poly!

Last night I was bundle of nerves. I walked around in circles - both mentally and really - wringing my hands, berating myself I'll never get anything done, and never get a Masters degree. I couldn't sit still, and ended up making ghee (turned out great, btw.) and when I went to sleep I had the worst nightmares: My professor yelled at me and then ignored me and refused to know me, I forgot to feed my dog and it died, I couldn't find my way around the University grounds and no one would help me etc. Takes no Siegmund Freud to decipher! When I woke up this morning it was with an unpleasant nervous feeling in my stomach, feeling as tired as when I went to sleep, blurry vision, dreading that I have a dead-line in 20 days. Just awful!

I sat down at the computer, and read MikeO's blog, and it was like scales fell from my eyes. I quote:

Quoted from MikeO's blog

If I were still eating like I was before the BTD, I would probably be really depressed at this point in my life. I would be swimming in a continuous brain fog of not knowing what to do (eating wheat will do that to you if you are an O)

Wow! What an eye opener! This is exactly how I feel now - and have felt for years and years before BTD. I concidered it "normal". That was just the way I was: Unorganized, unfocused, messy, lazy...

Seems like the positive changes just sort of creeped in without me noticing them. I became so used to feel good on BTD (in only one month - that's pretty amazing) that I couldn't remember how I was feeling before: Headachy, stressed, nervous, blurry vision, 1000 thoughts and ideas at once floating around in my brain without realizing a single one of them, no focus. Ick!

When those feelings returned, they sort of hit double as hard. Ouch!

So here's to wheat and all it's blessings: Fuzzy feelings, blurry eyes, brain fog and over weight. Cheers!

A BIG thanks to MikeO and the other excellent bloggers, the great and supportive community here at the BTD-board and to Dr. D. (senior and junior) for giving us the possibility to choose a better life!

Ah well, back to BTD. Maybe I'll even accomplish the impossible and really get the thesis done in 20 days...?! We'll see...! (with clear not blurred eyes!)

Unlike you, I was sick when I started the BTD. Being healthier makes such a difference with everything. Like you, when I cheat I don't feel it at first, but within a couple of days you have to give your head a shake and say "Why did I do that?"

One thing that I find that helps, besides Deflect O, when I have eaten avoids is to get out there and exercise and sweat to get the avoids out. It takes less time to heal when I do that. When I was reading your post and you were talking about being a bundle of nerves, etc. I was thinking "Poly-get out there and run." (Even if you don't feel like it).

I have printed out your testimony and Mike's blog as I want to show my family them. (I have showed them testimonies, etc. many times). It has to sink in at some point in time.

Thanks again.

Debra

P.S. And as it says under my avatar "Eat BTD...Healthy body...Happy Soul"

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." C.G. Jung"

Wanda - congratulations on finding BTD and making it a part of your life! I'm looking forward to read your future testimonial.

Yaman, thanks for the advice. I'll look into it. I've heard about roasted Dandelion root, and tried to find it at the HFS. That's when I found this pseudo-coffee... Hm, I'll have to ask the HFS-lady next time, if she knows of roasted Dandelion. Thanks for always being nice and helpful.

John, thank you SO much. I so enjoy to read your interesting and informative posts. They keep me thinking for a long time. (also because you know and use so many long words ) (Note to self: Remember to ask John, if it's best to wait until spring to take those chlorella-capsuls I have sitting in my kitchen-cabinet. I'm tired of having all those bottles standing around, but if John says it's not the right time now, I'll wait.)

Debra, I'm honoured you find my post worth printing out for your family to see. *frets over bad English and spelling* Hopefully they won't say: "Oh yeah, clearly you get linguisticly challenged from BTD! Great!" Good luck on making your family adopt BTD.Hubby isn't that compliant, either. He keeps eating avoids when he's at work, and making him stop eating potato-chips and candy has proven to be impossible (yet). But I'm working on it...!

Re. Deflect. I'm planning on getting some Deflect O, but have to wait a little. (I'm saving money to place a big order at Stacktheme - going to stock up on B- and O-supplements, teas etc.)

Quoted from debra

"Poly-get out there and run." (Even if you don't feel like it).

*sigh* Yes I know. That's what hubby keeps telling me. (He runs a lot - he's so not like other B's*) That's one of the things I'll have to incorporate in my life next. (Hee - I'm imagining hybby's surprised face, when I'm going running. )

Thank you all again. It's going to be a great weekend! I can feel it!

*) - actually I've wondered if they made a mistake when they tested his blood-type in the army. That would explain his nonnie-hood. On the other hand, his family does descend from Eastern Europe, so bloodtype B is very much possible...

PS.: "Thrive" - I'll keep that word in mind. And work on it, too. Thanks again!

Lola, there's actually also cicory root in that pseudo-coffee I bought. It contents: rye, cicory, barley, acorns and figs. They had a 100% cicory-coffee at the HFS, but I chose this one with all the different stuff in it - figuring it would have the richest taste. And it really tastes great... Guess, I'll have some experimenting to do...

Alia Vo Do you mean the beautiful bold flowers that blooms everywhere here in DK at the moment- When the frost comes we dig them up and keep them ftostfree until next spring! So Poly maybe you could just ask Søren Ryge for a few tubers....

oupthzzthzz Poly .... hope ya better now.... but please give me a fave....... just keepit on a paper...this statement and if ya yelling by yourselve (as a BTD-teacher and protoscientist ) re-read it... and smile.............

but must tell ya something.... this happens very often with my life-span-partner but I don't think, as ya mentioned it that this belongs to Freuds but better seen withC.G.Jung and Keirsey's and of cours have an eye onto the enneagram from Risos but have also an eye on this: sp-style is : ad hoc and has the biggest problem to getcentered.....I don't think that we can blame something or any stuff for such behaviour... sorry I meant; we can't blame only the stuff or the person or...or...or.... again I know this toooo well- and I can't do anything only accepting as it is... my l-s-p- grad erfunden can't do anything...can't complete anything...doesnt work anymore....can't held or build up his concentration for some-or anything and is blurring only storries and blames other's for such a behaviour...... and it is not only the way to shizos' but I guess...............I must intervent for hospitalisation because he will go against somebody and this not only verbally......... I feel it upcoming..... but as it is written in the laws.... we can't prevent... it MUST happen.............

Thanks for the tip, Alia Vo! Maybe I should give Søren Ryge a call, huh Henriette!

Hee, Isa - only reason I mentioned Freud is, he's the only "famous" psyciatrist I know, really. Heard about Jung, but don't know what his ideas and theories are about...

I feel better now, thank you, "only" had one of the most persistent migraines ever, this entire weekend. Don't know if it's detox or a reaction after the "brain-melt-down". The latter is very likely - it's happened before.

I will do as you suggest and print out my post to read and laugh about one day, when I'm a protoscientist!

you must have an eye one something too- try to get away from any compulsive blamings... I know its' hard but try it... it will work for you and before sleepa little of valerian for better relaxing and then autogenes training nach Schulze....wirkt Wunder- wirklich... saugut!!!

Your post just made a light bulb go off in my head. I've been eating alot of avoids lately, it's like the more of them i eat the more i want. Well i've been dealing with many of the symptoms you describe; fuzzy head, no focus, can't concentrate, allergies and waking up not feeling rested. All this time i thought (with the exception of the allergies) that these symptoms were caused by my depression. I've been waiting for new medication that's supposed to help with my energy level and focus to kick in. Funny thing is until a couple of weeks ago i was starting to feel alot better (other than my allergies), then i started to feel worse again. Well that's when my avoid binge started, no wonder i feel soo bad!. I'm really working on getting back to better compliancy. It's soo much harder to get back, when you've strayed soo far. But you give me inspiration!.

Thanks!Mickey

"Let food be thy medicine"

Dr. D has said many times that it's not about what you don't eat but what you do eat that makes the difference.Â Â "Quoted by Jane"

Thanks for all of the encouragement!, i definitely could use it right now!!!.

Lola,

You mentioned chicory root as a good coffee substitute. What form do i buy it in?. Meaning does it come in a tea or do you buy the root itself and make into a coffee?. I'm thinking that if i could just find a suitable substitute for coffee that would help me get off the real stuff.

Thanks Again! Mickey

"Let food be thy medicine"

Dr. D has said many times that it's not about what you don't eat but what you do eat that makes the difference.Â Â "Quoted by Jane"

OK, I'm reviving my old thread because I just discovered something new:

Pimples.

No, pimples are not a new discovery, I know, but listen anyway: I never had a lot of them as a teenager - a little on the shoulders and upper back, not a real problem - but as an adult I get one or two pimples ON MY NOSE when my period approaches. Sometimes also when I ovulate. So it's obviously hormonal.

Just yesterday morning I looked in the bathroom mirror and greeted myself: Hey Rudolf!!!

And you know what I realized?? That's the first pimple I've had since I started this way of life! And why? Yes, you guessed it: I've been SO bad with my diet during the whole summer: One avoid after the other.

So again a backwards testimonial: On BTD I enjoy having a clear skin. Just didn't notice it before it was gone...

The good part: I know it'll come back soon after cleaning up my diet again!

I know what you mean Poly. I used to have breakouts/pimples on my chest, shoulders and back, as well as my chin and forehead. When I started on the BTD, they disappeared!! (I now have great skin tone and texture.) They only come back when I'm eating a no-no.